GB2192477A

GB2192477A - Vending machine

Info

Publication number: GB2192477A
Application number: GB08713753A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Anthony Williams
Original assignee: RODSTOCK LEISURE Ltd
Current assignee: RODSTOCK LEISURE Ltd
Priority date: 1986-06-12
Filing date: 1987-06-12
Publication date: 1988-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 2007-06-12
Also published as: US4869500A; EP0249484A3; GB2192477B; GB8713753D0; EP0249484A2; GB8614278D0

Description

1 GB 2 192 477 A 1 SPECIFICATION place his coin ortoken group into a

comparable second mechanism 13. If desired,there can be a Vending machine single coin receiving mechanism on eitherthe vend part of the game part, means being provided to This invention relates to a vending machine and it is 70 enable a player to select between the two modes an object of the present invention to provide a playorvend.

machine which offers an individual interestto vend Use of mechanism 12 primes the game device part customers to enhance machine utilisation to 11 which has four targets denoted ad and increase sales and profitability. corresponding to vend products A-D. Each targetis Accordinglythe invention provides a vending 75 constituted by a column 14 of five lights depending machine incorporating or in combination with a skill from a main "trajectory" line of lights 15. The game device and operable, at the user's choice, in a trajectory line 15 starts at a representation of a purevend mode or in a playvend mode. projector 16 adjacent an actuator plunger 17. The As used herein the term "skill game" means a plunger 17 can be part of an assembly which is the game whose outcome is based wholly or mainly on 80 subject of patent application G132181065A, which at least one mental or physical skill of the user. A user details has the "plunger" or button 17 interfaces with who wins can receive a prize in cash or kind. circuitry of the display.

Awon prize can be combined with a user's stake (a The various lights 14, 15 can be in the form of number of coins ortokens fed into the machine) to circles which when illuminated give the impression provide effectively a free vend or a reduced price 85 of a win. The mechanism 13, plunger 12 and the vend. lights are connected to a CPU such as a programmed As a mental skill a user can, in each play, be calculator or small computerwhich contains the presented with a display pattern, as of lights and or 'rules" and regulations of the game. The plunger 17 numbers and be asked to calculate or estimate some sends a different output to the CPU depending on relationship between the components of the display, 90 how hard the plunger 17 is hit and the CPU is or, in a moving changing display, predictthe future programmed to produce a series of illuminated content of the display. lights along the various trajectory and target lines 15, As a physical skill the player can be invited to aim a 14 in simulation of the track of a "missile" projected projector at a target on a screen orthe like, or can be from the "projector" 16 in the manner of a shell of a invited to hit a button with a specified necessary 95 bagetelle ball. Thus a minimal actuation of plunger degree of force. 17 will cause a series of lightsto simulate a slow In a mental skill game a playercould be presented travelling "missile" reaching to point 18 or less, with a series of numbers and asked to predict,within followed by a "roll back" to projector 16. A a settime period, the next in the series. The skill here "roll-back" "ball" may be re-playable or mayfall into would be mental arithmetic. 100 a "lose" target (not shown). A plunger impact above In a specific physical skill game a plungerorbutton a certain level will cause a fasttraverse pastall could be provided which needsto betapped or hit targetsto a "lose" position 19. Intermediate weights with a desired degree of forceto cause certain orspeeds of actuation of plunger 17 will cause a results. The resultof a usertapping the plungercan simulated trajectoryending in one of thetarget be physically determined and displayed, but is 105 columns 14. The rate of light illumination can be desirably electronically simulated and displayed as a programmed to simulate a missile's initial high visual image orseries of images. speed and its slowing riseto maximum height dueto The displaycantake place on a screen of a cathode the deceleration or "gravity" and its subsequent raytubeforming part of the apparatus. acceleration downwards under "gravity" tothe In this case, the game can be mental and/or 110 target column. Each time a "missile" lands in a physical requiring mental and/or physical skills to "target" to lowermost "off" light can remain win. illuminated to signal a "hit" on that "target". Towin, The invention will be described further, bywayof a player must achieve a minimum number of "hits" example, with referenceto the accompanying on a selected "target".

drawings, wherein: 115 As an example, if the vend price of an article is Figure 1 is a front elevation of a possible ú1.00, the person wishing to try his skill may place embodiment of machine of the invention; and ú0.50 in the mechanism 13 and be given five Figure2 illustrates a practical form of a frontfacing attempts at "hitting " his selected "target". If he screen forthe machine of Figure 1. succeedswith all five attempts he may receive his A preferred machine 10 of the invention has a vend 120selected vend item ata reduced price of 50p. If he part9and a game part 11.The parts9and 10can be fails he may suffer a total loss, or he may receive a integral, or part 10 can be an additional item 1 Op "credit" on his vend for each successful "hit", securableto an existing vending machine 9. Part 9 is the balance of cash needing to be made up via an electrically controlled vending machine having, mechanism 12 or by additional attempts atthe say, four products A-D and a coin introduction and 125 "play" mode, or combination of the two.

checking machanism 12. A user can use the machine Thus the user is presented with the opportunity of in a pure vend mode by inserting a coin ortoken apurevendoragamevendwithapossibilityof group into mechanism 12 and selecting one of receiving a cheaper purchase with the added interest productsAto D in a conventional manner. ofthe game. This should increase utilisation and If the user wishes to take the game option he must 130 increase the profits of the machine provider.

2 GB 2 192 477 A 2 Naturally the nature and rules of the game can be Such a screen can be replaced by a liquid crystal varied widely. Mental and/or physical skills can be display or a light- emitting diode screen if desired.

tested and various options can be presented to a Of course, many other variations from the above play.r or userjor example, as to whether he wishes can be made within the scope of thefollowing to play a physical or mental game, or a game using 70 claims.

both skills.

Claims

A single mechanism 12,13 could be provided CLAIMS illuminated panel(s) and

button(s) inviting the user to play or buy. 1. A vending machine incorporating or in The skill game machine can be a separate entity 75 combination with a skill game device and operable, operatively connected to, but discon nectable from a atthe user's choice, in a pure vend mode or in a vending machine. It is expected thatthevending playvend mode.

machinewill need modification to allowthe
2. A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connection of the skill machine to it. A single prize in cash credit can be combined with a user's machine including both the "vend" and "skill" parts 80 original ora newstake (a number of coins ortokens can be constructed. However, in such a case, it is fed into the machine) to provide effectively a reduced desirable that the skill part is such thatthe game price.

played can be changed periodically as users become
3. A combination as claimed in claim 1 or 2, familiarwith and uninterested in the game. wherein a skill game part and a vend part of the The skill game can be displayed on a cathode ray 85 combination are detachably connected to allow tube such as a monitorscreen mounted in a separate replacement of the skill game part.

skill machine part orforming part of a combined skill
4. A combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein and vend machine. In this case the rules and the vend part is constructed to be capable of operating parameters of the game can be held within operation withoutthe skill game part.

memory connected to circuitry controlling the 90
5. A combination as claimed in any preceding screen and within software controlling operation of claim wherein the vend machine has a memory the circuitry. In such a machine the game can be which can receive signals from a coin mechanism changed atwill by changing the software, as by indicating that a desired value of coins has been re-programming via an appropriate electric part. inserted; can compare thattotal value with a vend Variation in screen surround format or player 95 price; and can free vend product select means upon directions from game to game can be achieved using the vend price being equalled by the coin value, removable screen overlays or the like. characterised in that the vend machine memory can A mental skill game can be of a quiz-like nature, the also receive signals from the skii 1 game part user having to press buttons orto otherwise indicate indicative of "prize" values and can add up signals his selected answer. Atally of correctscore can be 100 from thetwo sources to produce a total value of kept and translated into vend credits eiectronicallyat inputs from both sources.

the user's option. Many othertypes of game can be
6. A combination as claimed in any preceding provided by appropriate software, for example claim wherein the skill game involves a physical skill.

noughts and crosses, a similar marker or
7. A combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein piece-placing or moving games. However, it is felt 105 the physical skill game involves a user in contacting thatchess mighttaketoo long forthe user's andthe a member on the skill game with a desired force, or in vendor's peace of mind!) moving his hand(s) rapidly in responseto a signal.

Agame could be used which involvedthe user
8. A combination as claimed in any of claims 1 to actuating a "weapon" by pressing a button rapidly in 5wherein the skill game involves a mental skill.

responseto an occurrence on the screen. it could be 110
9. A combination as claimed in claim 8 wherein argued that such a game is purely physical, but the mental skill game involves the user in answering mental skills are probably also involved. There are questions in the manner of a quiz, or in moving and many existing targetskill games which can be used or placing tokens or marks on a simulated playing in the combination of the invention when display is area.

by means of a monitor screen. 115
10. A combination as claimed in any of claims 1 The vending part of the combination can vend to 5, wherein the skill game includes a combination J1 cigarettes, sweets, drinks or any combination of all of physical and mental skills.

these goods orany othergoods. The modification of
11. A combination as claimed in claim 10, a conventional vend machine to accept value credits wherein the game involves a "target" or "targets" at transmitted electronically from a game part of the 120 which a user must "fire" in response to a signal orat combination aswell asfrom a conventional coin will.

receiving mechanism is a simple task fora skilled
12. A combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein engineer and is not described. as a mental skill game a player is presented with a It will be appreciated that any prize awarded bythe numerical display and is asked to perform some act skill machine can be in cash ortokens, or can takethe 125 of mental arithmatic in relation to the numerical form of an article. For example, a prize on a skill display.

machine accompanying a cigarette vending machine
13. A combination as claimed in any preceding could be a packetof cigarettes, particularly a specific claim wherein a single coin receipt and validation brand of cigarettes being promoted. mechanism is provided on one or other of the parts A cathode raytube screen has been mentioned. 130 and the user is presented with selector means such 3 GB 2 192 477 A 3 as a switch to enable a choice to be made between vend and play vend modes.
14. A combination as claimed in any preceding claim wherein display of information to the user is by means of a cathode ray tube, as in a television screen.
15. A combination as claimed in claim 14 wherein the screen is comprised in a game part of the machine and one or more actuators, such as buttons handles or switches are provided and connected to internal circuitry.
16. A combination as claimed in claim 15, wherein the circuitry within the skill game part includes a micro-processor and the skill game is embodied in software and/or firm ware operating the microprocessor.
17. A combination as claimed in claim 16 wherein a plurality of games are provided in the software or in memory and are selectable at will by the user or by the site operator.
18. A combination as claimed in claim 16 wherein new programmes for new games can be entered via apart to the processor.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Croydon Printing Company (UK) Ltd, 11187, D8991685. Published byThe Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.

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